How to Stop Smoking Marijuana | Addiction & Recovery slideshows | Emotional & Mental Health center

Why are you smoking and why you want to stop?

Contrary to popular belief, marijuana can cause addiction. If you feel that you have increased your marijuana consumption in order to feel the same effects that you felt in the beginning, or if you have tried to stop using it but haven’t been successful, it is possible that you have developed marijuana dependence. Marijuana can affect your memory, your learning capacity and your attention, leading to problems at home, work and in your social life. Also, marijuana can induce you in the use of stronger drugs. So, if you smoke marijuana and want to stop using it, follow these simple advices that will help you achieve your objective and will give you the chance to improve your quality of life.

Sources & Links

Important notification about information and brand names used in this slideshow!
Photo courtesy of Matthew Kenwrick by Flickr : www.flickr.com/photos/58847482@N03/5396653671/
stopsmokingweedtoday.com/how-to-stop-smoking-weed-tips/
http://quitsmoking.about.com/od/tipsforquitting/a/DrGilchristtips.htm
http://oade.nd.edu/educate-yourself-drugs/marijuana-or-cannabis-sativa/marijuana-manual/

Start exercising regularly

Exercise can make you feel happy. Apart from helping you getting fit, exercise promotes the liberation of substances into your brain, just as marijuana does, which promote feelings of reward and happiness. Also, exercise will help you release stress related to withdrawal syndrome. Any physical activity, such as yoga, dancing, boxing, running or swimming, can help you go through the process of stopping marijuana consumption. Joining a gym or trying team sports, such as tennis or soccer, will also make you relate with other people. Just remember, try to exercise regularly and keep record of your improvements. This will make you feel confident and will keep you away from marijuana.

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Photo courtesy of Penn State by Flickr : www.flickr.com/photos/pennstatelive/8158656843/
oade.nd.edu/educate-yourself-drugs/marijuana-or-cannabis-sativa/marijuana-manual/

Change your diet

A change in your diet is always helpful, especially if in the past you didn’t pay attention to what you ate. A healthier diet will not only make you feel better with yourself, but will also provide you with the essential energy requirements to keep your body working properly. Usually, marijuana consumers have dehydration symptoms and a diet based on carbohydrates and fats. A change in your diet doesn’t mean you have to follow a specific one, just make sure you drink enough water, and avoid eating food based on refined sugars and carbohydrates. Replace junk food with fruits and vegetables, chicken and fish, grains, beans and lentils. This food will provide you with fibre, good quality carbohydrates and fats, vitamins and minerals, and antioxidants, to keep you healthy and with energy to overcome marijuana dependence.

Sources & Links

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Photo courtesy of Gila Brand by Wikimedia Commons : en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:BikurimS.jpg
www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002149.htm

Find new hobbies

Keeping yourself busy will prevent you from using marijuana. Give your brain something else to focus on, like doing puzzles or painting. If you enjoy reading, for example, you can join a book club. Don’t be afraid to try new activities, like cooking, gardening, volunteering for charities or listening to music. Choose an activity that you enjoy and feel comfortable doing; this will not only help you manage the withdrawal of marijuana, but will also give you a sense of satisfaction and will help you improve your memory and learning skills, which may have been affected by marijuana consumption.

Sources & Links

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Photo courtesy of Carsten Tolkmit by Flickr : www.flickr.com/photos/laenulfean/374398160/
oade.nd.edu/educate-yourself-drugs/marijuana-or-cannabis-sativa/marijuana-manual/
http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/marijuana-abuse/how-does-marijuana-produce-its-effects

Keep your mouth and hands busy

Some of the symptoms of withdrawal syndrome are craving and anxiety. These make it difficult for people to quit on marijuana consumption. If you are feeling anxious, keep your hands and mouth busy to reduce the anxiety. You can use a stress ball and squeeze it whenever these feelings come to you; also, drinking warm water, chewing gum or eating free sugar candies might be helpful in reducing anxiety. There are some breathing exercises that can help you cope with anxiety and cravings. You can also try meditation exercises, which will make you feel more relaxed and in control of your cravings for marijuana.

Sources & Links

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Photo courtesy of OndraSoukup by Flickr : www.flickr.com/photos/modrak/144975749/
ANDERSON, B. M., RIZZO, M., BLOCK, R. I., PEARLSON, G. D. & O'LEARY, D. S. 2010. Sex, drugs, and cognition: effects of marijuana. J Psychoactive Drugs, 42, 413-24.

Write up reasons for quitting and keep reading them

Writing your goals and keeping them in a visible place is a good strategy when trying to achieve something. In this case, writing the reasons why you want to quit smoking marijuana will keep these reasons in your mind and will help you to stay focus in your objective. Whether it’s your family, keeping your job, or simply feeling better, keep this reasons visible, and share them with people you trust and feel comfortable with. Remember that quitting marijuana is not easy, and sometimes you might feel tempted to start smoking again, so whenever you feel like this, read what you wrote down and breathe.

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Photo courtesy of Adrian Scottow by Flickr : www.flickr.com/photos/chodhound/5614181041/
oade.nd.edu/educate-yourself-drugs/marijuana-or-cannabis-sativa/marijuana-manual/

Avoid other pot smokers

If you are trying to stop smoking marijuana, being surrounded by other people that also use marijuana is not the best idea. It might be difficult to avoid being with them, especially if they are your friends, or even part of your family, but it is necessary for you to stay away from temptation. Find a new job, join a sports club or take long walks in the park. Focus on yourself and your recovery. If it is not possible for you to be away from other pot smokers, don’t get stressed and put in practice the rest of the advices, including meeting new people and exercising.

Sources & Links

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Photo courtesy of Mike0112358 by Flickr : www.flickr.com/photos/10928248@N02/1183857919/
oade.nd.edu/educate-yourself-drugs/marijuana-or-cannabis-sativa/marijuana-manual/

Hang out only with people who don't smoke

This advice is related to the previous one. Now that you are trying to stop smoking marijuana, not only a change of habits is necessary, but also a change to an environment that will make you feel comfortable, safe and willing to continue in the process of quitting marijuana. Ask your family to help you in this process, talk to your closest friends and ask them to join you in your new activities. Having people to talk to and to be with is always helpful, no matter what you are trying to accomplish. In this case, having someone to talk to when you feel you need to smoke marijuana might prevent you from falling into temptation.

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Photo courtesy of makelessnoise by Flickr : www.flickr.com/photos/makelessnoise/240072395/
oade.nd.edu/educate-yourself-drugs/marijuana-or-cannabis-sativa/marijuana-manual/

Change old triggers to smoke

Think about what made you start smoking in the first place. Was it just for fun? Or was it because of stress caused by work, family or money problems? It doesn’t matter how much you want to stop smoking marijuana when the main problem that led you to develop the addiction is still part of your life. Change old habits; look for alternatives to deal with stress and to solve the issues that are making you keep on smoking marijuana. You can talk about his with a family member, a friend, or even a psychotherapist. They might be able to give you some advice on how to deal with what is making you feel you need marijuana to feel better.

Sources & Links

Important notification about information and brand names used in this slideshow!
Photo courtesy of Freddie Peña by Flickr : www.flickr.com/photos/fixem/4815843665/
www.drugabuse.gov/publications/marijuana-abuse/how-does-marijuana-produce-its-effects
http://oade.nd.edu/educate-yourself-drugs/marijuana-or-cannabis-sativa/marijuana-manual/

Stay focused and confident

To stop smoking marijuana, like any other drug, is not an easy thing to do. But if you really want to achieve this, you have to stay focused on your objective and have confidence on yourself. Apply all the advices that were given to you in this slideshow and be patient with yourself. Also, if you feel that you need other type of help to quit smoking marijuana, don’t hesitate and look for help, either in your family, friends or a professional. There are experts that can help you overcome your addiction and get back your life. The first and most important step when quitting marijuana is to believe you are capable of doing it.